Energy Efficiency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much has been provided to the HEAT project through the energy efficiency commitment in each year of its operation;
	(2)  how many dwellings have had energy efficiency measures installed through the HEAT programme, broken down by (a) type of measure and (b) total funding provided; and what proportion of these were assessed as fuel poor.

Elliot Morley: While I understand that H EAT is an energy supplier's scheme under the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC), Ofgem, who administers the EEC does not report on an individual scheme basis. Ofgem's report to the Secretary of State "A Review of the Energy Efficiency Commitment 2002–05" sets out for each energy supplier the percentage of energy savings achieved towards its target according to the types of measures delivered—insulation, heating, appliances and lighting. For each type of measure the percentage of savings achieved in the priority group of low-income consumers is specified.

Fishing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to stop the poaching of (a) carp, (b) bream, (c) pike and (d) tench in lakes in England.

Ben Bradshaw: "Poaching", whether for these or other fish species, generally refers to taking fish using illegal methods, and/or taking fish without the owner's permission, i.e. theft. It cuts across the roles and responsibilities of the fishery owner, the Environment Agency and the Police.
	The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating fishing methods, under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act, 1975. Individual fishery owners and the police are responsible for enforcing the Theft Act, 1968.
	The Environment Agency does not have the powers to prosecute under the Theft Act, but will work with the police to bring prosecutions where both theft and illegal fishing offences are committed.
	The Environment Agency takes an intelligence-led approach to programming enforcement and offence detection. It will respond to reports of illegal fishing in line with its customer charter. When it detects an offence and can gather sufficient evidence, it will take further action in line with its enforcement and prosecution policy.
	The Environment Agency and the police support local "fishwatch" schemes, whereby fishery owners share information on suspicious activity.

Greenhouse Gasses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what scientific advice the Government have received on the level of greenhouse gas reductions required by 2050 to avoid unacceptable risk of extreme climate change.

Elliot Morley: The ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that avoids "dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system". As yet there is no consensus on what constitutes this level. It is, however, accepted that dangerous levels will be different for different impact sectors and for different regions.
	The Environment Council stated in 1996 that adaptation to a global temperature rise of 2C would be possible, but that the impacts associated with a temperature rise greater than 2°C are likely to be severe enough to be classified as 'dangerous'. A 2°C temperature rise was the starting point for the analysis carried out in preparation for the Energy White Paper, underpinning the conclusion by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution Secretariat that we should put the UK on a path to reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050.
	Our scientific understanding of the links between atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration, the scale of emissions reductions required and the risk of extreme climate change is rapidly developing, but still uncertain. The issue of stabilisation levels of atmospheric greenhouse concentrations was addressed at the Defra-funded international science conference, Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, held in Exeter in February this year. The report of the steering committee concluded that:
	"Compared with the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's] IPCC's Third Assessment Report (TAR) there is greater clarity and reduced uncertainty about the impacts of climate change across a wide range of systems, sectors and societies. In many cases the risks are more serious than previously thought".

Illegal Logging

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking in respect of the UK Government's EU presidential role to build a multilateral approach under the Forests Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Action Plan; what other steps her Department is taking to tackle illegal logging effectively; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Government have used its presidencies of the G8 and EU to really focus on the issue of illegal logging and to promote the FLEGT Action Plan.
	The Government see the bilateral approach of the Forests Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) dossier as an important way to develop experience in tacking illegal logging and to build the consensus that could lead to a multilateral agreement. The dossier, recently agreed under the UK presidency of the EU, allows for Partnership Agreements which will involve the establishment of a licensing scheme to ensure that only legal timber from Partner Countries is allowed into the EU.
	Illegal logging was also one of two topics of discussion at the first ever G8 Environment and Development Ministerial meeting in Derbyshire in March 2005. Ministers '; agreed to a range of actions and officials will meet in 2006 to review progress.
	The UK has also led in promoting and supporting Regional Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) processes in order to intensify national efforts and strengthen bilateral, regional and multi-lateral collaboration to address violations of forest law and forest crime. The UK has, from late 2004, been working with Russia to develop the European and North Asia FLEG regional process. The first Ministerial meeting is taking place in St Petersburg this month, November 2005. Other regional processes which the UK supports are the East Asian and African FLEG processes, the Asia Forest Partnership and the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.
	The UK Government also recognise that Government purchasing policies can also send a strong signal to the market and timber suppliers. Since 2000 the UK Government have committed its central departments to seek to procure products made from timber that has been legally harvested and grown in a sustainably managed forest or plantation. The UK timber trade tells us that this policy has been the single most important driver of change of behaviour in the UK private sector. As a leader in this field, this year the Government committed to extend guidance on legal and sustainable timber procurement to the wider public sector, and to share our knowledge on procurement with the G8 and other countries.

Marine Environment (Monitoring)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what research has been carried out (a) by and (b) on behalf of her Department to establish the background levels of (i) cocaine, (ii) LSD, (iii) cannabis and (iv) other recreational drugs in (A) the aquatic environment and (B) drinking water;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to assess the impact on the environment of recreational drug residues in UK aquatic environments.

Elliot Morley: Recreational drugs will be subject to substantial dilution in the aquatic environment, resulting in concentrations many times lower than the doses taken, and background levels which are not thought to present a threat to the aquatic environment. This is supported by the EU "Poseidon" research report on endocrine disruptor and pharmaceutical residues, and the Environment Agency has not undertaken further research.
	Ozone and carbon treatment installed at drinking water treatment works to remove traces of pesticides is also effective for a wide range of trace organic substances such that no significant quantities of recreational drugs will be detectable in tap water. No research has been commissioned or carried out by Defra.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of how many families use washable nappies; and how many tonnes of waste disposable nappies have accounted for in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environment Agency's Life Cycle Assessment estimated that 6 per cent. of households with babies in nappies used washable nappies to some extent and that 94 per cent. used disposable nappies only.
	We do not collect information on the amount of disposable nappies used nor of the disposal route.
	The Strategy Unit report "Waste Not Want Not" estimated that in 2000–01 nappies comprised around 2 per cent. of household waste, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of how many tonnes of disposable nappy waste have been saved through the use of washable nappies since 1997;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of how many tonnes of disposable nappy waste have been diverted from landfill since the Waste and Resources Action Programme Real Nappy Programme began in 2003.

Ben Bradshaw: The Strategy Unit report "Waste Not Want Not" estimated that in 2000–01 nappies comprised around 2 per cent. of household waste, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes in England.
	The WRAP programme has the objective of diverting 35,000 tonnes of nappy waste from landfill over the period of the programme up to 2006.
	WRAP reports annually on its overall progress in meeting targets, including work under the Real Nappy Programme.
	It is scheduled to report on its achievements for the business plan period up to 2006 next year. At the outset of the programme 91 per cent. of expectant parents said they intended to use disposable nappies. Work done for the environment agency suggested the figure may be higher at 94 per cent. WRAP intends to survey parents again at the end of the programme and to establish the change in intended behaviour. An estimate of the diversion will be made and published by WRAP at that time taking account of the survey and other quantitative evidence.

Pesticides

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are taken to monitor the impact of pesticides on those living in localities where spraying occurs.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 8 November 2005
	Anyone who feels their health may have been affected by pesticides, whether by a one-off or a longer term exposure, should report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Health and Safety Executive staff investigate complaints involving ill health arising as a result of a work activity. Once an investigation is complete details of investigated cases are sent for examination by the HSE's Pesticides Incident Appraisal Panel (PIAP). PIAP reviews all the reports and publishes its conclusions in an annual report which is reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. Following recommendations in the recent report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) on "Crop Spraying and the Health of Residents and Bystanders" the Government will be reviewing these arrangements.

Snowfall

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is the predicted future annual number of days when there is snowfall for (a) London, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Bristol and (d) Inverness in (i) 2010, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2030 and (iv) 2050.

Elliot Morley: In April 2002, the Department published new "Climate Change Scenarios for the UK". These scenarios include information on total winter snowfall amounts, but not number of snowfall days. Snowfall totals decline substantially over the whole UK and in all scenarios, with the largest percentage reductions around the coast and in the English lowlands.
	While there are no robust estimates at the scale of individual cities, the scenarios indicate that in the London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Inverness areas snowfall could be reduced by up to 55, 50, 57 and 59 per cent. respectively, by the 2050s (compared to the 1961–90 average baseline), depending on the degree of future climate change.
	For the particular years in question a general scaling back of the UK-wide data gives the following estimates of the reduction in snowfall over these periods, depending on whether there is a low or high degree of climate change:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Reduction 
		
		
			 2010 17 to 30 
			 2020 22 to 38 
			 2030 27 to 47 
			 2050 37 to 65 
		
	
	These figures represent general trends, not predictions of the amount of snowfall in specific years, which will be greatly influenced by natural year-to-year variability, particularly in the first few decades of the century.
	Further information is available in the full report in the Libraries of both Houses, and more information may be available when the "UK Climate Change Scenarios" are updated in 2007.

Water/Sewerage Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much water was supplied by water companies to consumers in the last year for which figures are available; what this represents per household; and what percentage of tap water supplied is estimated to be used for drinking purposes.

Elliot Morley: The Office of Water Services' (Ofwat) report "Security of Supply, leakage and the efficient use of water 2004–05" states that 8,700 megalitres a day is supplied to domestic customers by water companies in England and Wales. This equates to 3,175,500 megalitres of water being supplied in 2004–05.
	The report also confirms that water companies in England and Wales estimate that average household consumption was 150 litres/head/day in 2004–05. Of this average, the estimated proportion of water used for drinking purposes, which includes water use within cooking and for food preparation, is 7 per cent.

Water/Sewerage Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average monthly cost to consumers is of (a) water services and (b) sewerage services in each water supply area in 2005–06 (i) in total and (ii) broken down by those who were (A) metered and (B) unmetered.

Elliot Morley: The average monthly cost to households of water and sewerage services is set out in the following tables, broken down by company area and by measured and unmeasured supply. The figures are estimates based on forecast data provided to Ofwat by companies.
	
		
			   £ 
			  Water Sewerage 
			 2004–05 Unmeasured Measured Total Unmeasured Measured Total 
		
		
			 Water and sewerage companies   
			 Anglian 13.17 9.67 11.17 16.58 12.25 14.17 
			 Dwr Cymru 12.75 8.75 11.83 16.58 9.50 14.92 
			 Essex and Suffolk 13.25 9.67 9.25
			 Northumbrian 9.50 7.83 11.92 12.08 10.33 11.83 
			 Severn Trent 11.25 9.42 10.75 10.42 9.83 10.25 
			 Southwest 14.75 9.67 12.17 26.92 16.17 21.17 
			 Southern 9.08 8.58 8.92 16.83 13.92 16.00 
			 Thames 12.92 11.08 12.50 8.58 8.33 8.50 
			 United Utilities 11.58 10.33 11.33 13.08 11.67 12.83 
			 Wessex 12.92 9.67 11.75 14.83 11.08 13.75 
			 Yorkshire (incl. York) 11.08 9.25 10.50 12.08 9.92 11.50 
		
	
	
		
			£ 
			 Water only companies
		
		
			 Bournemouth and W Hampshire 11.42 9.50 10.67 
			 Bristol 11.08 9.58 10.67 
			 Cambridge 9.58 7.83 8.67 
			 Dee Valley 10.75 7.42 9.58 
			 Folkestone and Dover 14.58 10.58 12.75 
			 Mid Kent 13.00 10.33 12.08 
			 Portsmouth 6.58 6.67 6.58 
			 South East 13.58 10.83 12.75 
			 South Staffs 8.75 8.33 8.67 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 12.58 9.50 12.00 
			 Tendring Hundred 17.00 11.58 13.58 
			 Three Valleys 12.33 10.17 11.75

Aircraft Leasing Costs

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of leasing or hiring (a) helicopters and (b) fixed wing aircraft from commercial contractors in each year since 2000.

Adam Ingram: The cost of the leasing or hiring of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft from commercial contractors in each year since 2000 is shown in the following table. The data shown have been gathered from centrally held records. A number of other areas within the Ministry of Defence hire or lease aircraft but details of these contracts are not held centrally and could be supplied only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Financial year Helicopters Fixed wing aircraft 
		
		
			 2000–01 29 43 
			 2001–02 29 46 
			 2002–03 30 47 
			 2003–04 40 45 
			 2004–05 43 50 
		
	
	In compiling this answer, an error in the calculation of the projected cost for leasing or hiring helicopters and fixed wing aircraft in financial year 2005–06, given in response to a previous parliamentary question of 25 October 2005, Official Report, columns 245–48W, came to light. The cost for financial year 2005–06 is likely to be in the region of £95 million and not as previously reported, £74 million.

Royal Ordnance

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 December 1997, Official Report, column 383W on Royal Ordnance, Bridgewater to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Robert Key), what considerations he took into account in approving the joint venture between BAE Systems and Société Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is aware that discussions took place some years ago between Royal Ordnance (now BAE Systems Land Systems) and Société Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs with a view to a joint venture. No final agreement was reached between the two companies so there was no joint venture.

Vanguard Nuclear Submarines

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the end of service life is of each of the four Vanguard-class nuclear-powered submarines.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2123W, to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr. Lewis).

Departmental Salaries

Michael Penning: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list the 10 highest-paid employees in his Office; what the (a) job title and (b) salary including bonuses is of each; and whether the individual concerned is (i) a civil servant and (ii) a contractor in each case.

Geoff Hoon: The highest paid employee in the Office of the Leader of the House is the Principle Private Secretary, who is a member of the Senior Civil Service. Details of his salary band are available in the Privy Council Office, Resource Accounts 2003–04, HC109Q. A copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
	The office employs an additional 13 members of staff, all of whom are civil servants. Details of their salary are not released, as to provide this information for such a small number of staff (all of whom are below the Senior Civil Service grade) would be unfair on the grounds of their entitlement to privacy.

Departmental Staff

Michael Penning: To ask the Leader of the House how many staff in his Office were (a) civil servants, (b) contractors and (c) other staff in each year since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: Prior to 2001 separate records were not kept for the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons. The figures were disaggregated from the rest of the Privy Council Office, which provides administrative support to my office, only from 2001. The information available is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Civil servants Contractors Other staff 
		
		
			 2001 19 0 0 
			 2005 19.5 0 0 
			 2005 16.5 0 0 
			 2004 16 0 0 
			 2005 14 0 0

Legal Aid

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of legal aid for asylum seekers for the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if she will list the 10 companies in receipt of most aid.

Bridget Prentice: The Government warmly welcomes the introduction of the European Union's cross-border legal aid directive, which the Government enacted in November 2004.
	The Legal Services Commission has received only one application for legal aid here in the United Kingdom and has transmitted 22 applications to other member states. The Government therefore expect the additional legal aid costs to be minimal. The Government do not hold the information requested in relation to both the costs of implementation and the impact of the scheme on the quantity of litigation.

Housing

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage change has been in average weekly rent in constant prices in (a) the local authority and (b) the registered social landlord sector in each (i) London borough and (ii) English region since 2001.

Yvette Cooper: Average weekly rent by local authority district and region are published for the local authority sector and the registered social landlord sector on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website in Tables 702 and Tables 704 respectively. The links for these tables are given as follows:
	Table 702: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/embedded_object.asp?id=1156266
	Table 704: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/embedded_object.asp?id:=1156268
	These tables will be updated with information for 2005 late this month. The percentage changes from March 2001 to March 2004 are given in the Tables:
	(i) London boroughs
	
		Table 1: Percentage change in average weekly rent at constant prices 2001 to 2004 for London boroughs
		
			  Registered Social Landlord (RSL) % increase Local Authority Landlord % increase 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 2.2 3.8 
			 Barnet 2.7 5.0 
			 Bexley -2.2 LSVT 
			 Brent 7.3 -3.4 
			 Bromley 0.1 LSVT 
			 Camden 4.9 -2.6 
			 City of London 7.7 5.5 
			 Croydon 1.2 -3.6 
			 Ealing 6.2 -5.7 
			 Enfield 6.9 -0.5 
			 Greenwich 6.2 2.7 
			 Hackney 5.3 -7.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6.3 3.4 
			 Haringey 3.3 -1.8 
			 Harrow 1.1 2.2 
			 Havering 3.2 5.1 
			 Hillingdon 4.2 0.4 
			 Hounslow 3.0 4.4 
			 Islington 6.9 -2.9 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8.1 5.6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 6.2 0.4 
			 Lambeth 5.1 3.2 
			 Lewisham 6.2 0.7 
			 Merton 1.9 0.2 
			 Newham 3.5 3.4 
			 Redbridge 3.6 -6.3 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0.9 LSVT 
			 Southwark 5.9 -1.0 
			 Sutton 3.8 5.3 
			 Tower Hamlets 7.9 -8.0 
			 Wandsworth 5.0 9.8 
			 Waltham Forest -1.0 1.4 
			 Westminster 6.3 1.2 
			 London 4.1 0.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. RSL data based on data collected by the Housing Corporation via the annual Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR) LA data based on unaudited returns from the Second Subsidy Claim form and are provisional for 2004.
	2. Constant prices based on the Retail Price Index.
	3. Average Weekly Rents in Both Sectors are affected by Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (LSVT).
	4. "LSVT": all or most of the local authority stock has been transferred to the RSL sector, so an average rent is no longer appropriate.
	(ii) English Regions
	
		Table 2: Percentage change in average weekly rent at constant prices 2001 to 2004 for English regions
		
			  Registered Social Landlord % increase Local Authority Landlord % increase 
		
		
			 North East 0.0 1.6 
			 North West 4.0 1.0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4.8 -1.0 
			 East Midlands -0.7 3.5 
			 West Midlands 2.6 2.8 
			 East 1.3 1.8 
			 London 4.1 0.1 
			 South East 1.6 3.0 
			 South West 2.1 0.3 
			 England 0.8 2.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. RSL data based on data collected by the Housing Corporation via the annual Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR) LA data based on un-audited returns from the Second Subsidy Claim form and are provisional for 2004.
	2. Constant prices based on the Retail Price Index.
	3. Average Weekly Rents in Both Sectors are affected by Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (LSVT). If Large Scale Voluntary Transfers have taken place the average weekly rents may be affected by the change in the mix of the stock.

Local Government Finance

Margaret Moran: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) revenue and (b) capital funding his Department has allocated to Luton council in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was established following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. The following table sets out payments made to Luton council since 2002–03. For earlier years, the table shows the amount paid by ODPM's predecessor Departments from programmes which are now administered by the Office.
	
		
			   All figures (£ million) 
			 Funding (a) Revenue (b) Capital 
		
		
			 2000–01 136.000 5.163 
			 2001–02 141.859 3.013 
			 2002–03 148.423 3.063 
			 2003–04 171.619 6.323 
			 2004–05 179.599 7.946 
			 Total 777.500 25.508

Thames Gateway

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of the Thames Gateway project will be accounted for by social housing.

Yvette Cooper: The ultimate percentage of affordable housing (which includes social housing) in the Thames Gateway will be dependent upon a number of factors such as local development plan requirements. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not set targets centrally for affordable housing.
	However, "Creating Sustainable Communities: Delivering the Thames Gateway" sets out our expectation that at least 35 per cent. of new homes will be affordable for rent or purchase, while supporting the different local circumstances across the Gateway. The London Plan, published in February 2004, set an affordability target of 50 per cent. for new developments. Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) for the South East of England and the East of England regions are currently under review. At present neither existing RSS sets a target for affordable housing, but an anticipated target of 30 per cent. was put forward in the Interregional Planning Statement agreed by the three Gateway regional planning authorities.

"Working Together"

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to publish the responses to the consultation on "Working Together".

Maria Eagle: The consultation ended on 28 October. The Department will publish an analysis of the consultation responses within three months of this date, in line with standard DfES practice.

Education

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of its total budget was spent by Lancashire Local Education Authority on special needs education in West Lancashire in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is collected at local education authority level. West Lancashire is part of Lancashire Local Education Authority and the information supplied is reported at the LEA level.
	
		Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs1, 2 by Lancashire local authority(7) in financial year 2005–06
		
			  Expenditure 
		
		
			 Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs1, 2, 3, 4 (£) 109,113,000 
			 Total education revenue expenditure3, 4, 5 (£) 702,069,000 
			 Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with SEN as a percentage of total education revenue expenditure(8) 15.5 
		
	
	(5) Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as "notional SEN" and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.
	(6) The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against "notional SEN" are indicative only of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN. In addition to the figures quoted above, Lancashire also budgeted £13.2 million for SEN transport expenditure in 2005–06.
	(7) Financial data are collected at a local authority level and as such figures for West Lancashire are not available.
	(8) Figures are in cash terms as reported by the LEA and rounded to the nearest £1,000 and may not sum due to rounding.
	(9) Total Education Revenue Expenditure is the combination of the total schools budget and the total local authority budget.
	(10) The data are drawn from Lancashire local authority's 2005–06 Section 52 Budget Statement (Tables 1 and 2) submitted to the DfES.

Cycling

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis local authorities determine (a) along which stretches of major roads cycle lanes are provided and (b) how those cycle lanes are to interlink with other infrastructure, with particular reference to bus stops.

Derek Twigg: The provision of cycle lanes on major and other roads is a matter for individual highway authorities as is the way in which cycle lanes interlink with other public transport infrastructure such as rail and bus stations.
	Advice to highway authorities on the planning and design of facilities for cycling is given in "Cycle-friendly Infrastructure" published jointly by the Department, the Institution of Highways and Transportation, the Cyclists Touring Club and the Bicycle Association. This publication provides specific advice on cycle lanes and how cycling infrastructure can be integrated with public transport.
	The Department plans to publish an updated version of "Cycle-friendly Infrastructure" in 2006.

DfT Rail

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the costs were of winding up the Strategic Rail Authority and forming DfT Rail; and what the sources were of these funds.

Derek Twigg: The winding up of the Strategic Rail Authority will not be complete until the end of this financial year. As such, final outturn costs are not available. The current estimate of the financial costs and benefits is set out in the table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  DfT extra costs SRA cost savings SRA building savings Transition costs Net cost (benefit) 
		
		
			 2005–06 21.0 19.5 0 11.6 13.1 
			 2006–07 34.8 39 4.1 0 (8.3) 
			 2007–08 34.8 39 5.5 0 (9.7) 
			 2008–09 34.8 39 5.5 0 (9.7) 
			 2009–10 34.8 39 5.5 0 (9.7) 
			 2010–11 34.8 39 5.5 0 (9.7)

Railways

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which company holds each rail franchise; what targets each has (a) met and (b) missed; and when each franchise (i) began and (ii) will expire.

Derek Twigg: Details of franchise holders and the start and end dates of their franchises are set out in the table.
	Franchise agreements contain numerous targets relating to service quality, punctuality, financial performance, customer service and a range of other issues. It is not practicable to list them all here. However, customer service information is available from the Office of Rail Regulation's website and punctuality data from Network Rail's website.
	Franchise agreements and associated documents are available through the Department for Transport's Public Register:
	
		
			 Franchise operator Franchisee Franchise start date Franchise end date 
		
		
			 West Coast Trains Limited Virgin Rail Group Ltd. 19 February 1997 31 March 2012 
			 Crosscountry Trains Limited Virgin Rail Group Ltd. 5 January 1997 11 November 2007 
			 Chiltern M40 Trains Ltd. 3 March 2002 (with a shrink-back provision if future enhancements are not met. At present the minimum franchise term is confirmed at 12 years) 31 December 2021 
			 Central Trains Limited National Express Group plc. 2 March 1997 (15)31 March 2006 
			 Silverlink Train Services Limited National Express Group plc. 6 February 1997 15 October 2006 
			 Southern Govia Ltd. 12 May 2003 31 December 2009 (or an earlier date if notice served on franchise(e) 
			 Gatwick Express National Express Group plc. 28 April 1996 29 April 2011 
			 First Great Western Link Great Western Holdings Ltd. (First Group plc.) 1 April 2004 1 April 2006 
			 First Great Western Trains Great Western Holdings Ltd. (First Group plc.) 5 February 1996 1 April 2006 
			 Arriva Trains Wales Arriva Trains Ltd. 8 December 2003 14 October 2018 
			 C2c Rail Limited National Express Group plc. 26 May 1996 25 May 2011 
			 Wessex (Interim franchise agreement) National Express Group plc. 14 October 2001 31 March 2006 
			 Midland Mainline National Express Group plc. 28 April 1996 26 April 2008 
			 WAGN National Express Group plc. Original Franchise Agreement made on 5 December 1996 extended on 1 April 2004 Original termination date 1 April 2004 extended to 1 April 2006 
			 Thameslink Govia Ltd. Original Franchise Agreement made on 10 February 1997 extended on 1 April 2004 Original termination date 1 April 2004 extended to 1 April 2006 
			 Trans Pennine Express First/Keolis TransPennine Holdings Ltd. 1 February 2004 1 February 2012 (with a possible five years extension of not more than 65 reporting periods) 
			 ONE National Express Group plc. 1 April 2004 1 April 2014 
			 South West Trains Stagecoach Group plc. 2 February 2004 2 February 2007 
			 South Eastern Trains SET (Holdings) Ltd. 9 November 2003 1 April 2006 
			 Northern Northern rail Ltd. 12 December 2004 18 September 2011 
			 GNER Great North Eastern Rail Ltd. 1 May 2005 1 May 2012 (with an automatic further 3 years if targets are met) 
			 Island Line Stagecoach Group plc. 4 February 2004 4 February 2007 
		
	
	(15) but to be further extended to 11 November 2007

Road Accidents

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatal motor vehicle accidents, (b) fatalities, (c) motor vehicle accidents resulting in serious injury and (d) motor vehicle accidents requiring the attendance of an ambulance there were on the A47 Acle Straight in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The data related to A47 Acle Straight is in a format supplied by the Highways Agency.
	The period of data covers 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2005.
	
		Total accidents involving personal injury
		
			  Fatal Serious Slight Total 
		
		
			 2000 0 1 11 12 
			 2001 0 7 24 31 
			 2002 1 3 18 22 
			 2003 0 2 18 20 
			 2004 1 5 14 20 
			 2005(16) 1 0 8 9 
			 Total 3 18 93 114 
		
	
	
		Number of casualties involved in those accidents
		
			  Fatal Serious Slight Total 
		
		
			 2000 0 1 14 15 
			 2001 0 7 45 52 
			 2002 1 3 28 32 
			 2003 0 2 28 30 
			 2004 1 7 21 29 
			 2005(16) 1 1 20 22 
			 Total 3 21 156 180 
		
	
	(16) 2005 data is current up to 30 September 2005.
	The Highways Agency does not hold information on the attendance of ambulances at accidents. The Ambulance Service may be able to provide this information.

Pensions

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether research has been commissioned into the pension prospects for (a) lone parents and (b) black and minority ethnic women over the next 20 years.

Stephen Timms: The report "Women and pensions: The evidence" published on 2 November, and available in the Library, provides a detailed analysis of women's pension position and draws together the latest research findings on key influences on women's ability to build up pension entitlement. The report considers the impact of lone parenthood and family caring responsibilities and examines pension entitlement among ethnic minority women.
	The Department for Work and Pensions has also commissioned new research which will examine the expectations, priorities and saving and working decisions among both working-age people and pensioners from ethnic minority groups.

Community Health Care

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses to "Your Health Your Care Your Say" have been received from (a) health professionals, (b) organisations and (c) members of the public; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Of 1,252 people who participated in the regional and national "Your Health, Your Care, Your Say" deliberative events, 133 people said they were health or social care staff. By Monday, 31 October, 19,183 completed questionnaires had been returned, including 9,654 responses from people who indicated that they worked in health or social care. In addition, more than 2,000 responses have been received from readers of "Take-a-Break" magazine and national health service publications, "Prime" and "Fit". The questions published in these magazines were a subset of the full set of questions, designed specifically for these publications and did not ask people about their employment.
	We do not yet have figures from the local or devolved listening events. The process is designed to consult the public on what they want from community health and social care services. We are engaging with health and social care organisations in other ways, but mainly through five policy taskforces, which are making recommendations on the policy options that fit with the public views.

Community Health Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2005, Official Report, column 1187W, on "Your Health, Your Care, Your Say", how many people were selected to take part in each event.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		"Your Health, Your Care, Your Say" consultation
		
			  Number of people: 
			 Event Selected Who attended 
		
		
			 Gateshead 110 89 
			 Leicester 65 60 
			 London 65 51 
			 Plymouth 60 54 
			 Birmingham 1,200 998

NHS Commissioning

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the rationale behind the decision to reduce the role of primary care trusts in direct provision of health services to a minimum; and on what evidence the decision was based.

Liam Byrne: No decisions on the future provision of community and primary healthcare services will be taken until after the White Paper on community healthcare services has been published. The White Paper will be informed by the results of the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say listening exercise currently underway. Clinical services will continue to be provided by primary care trusts (PCTs) unless and until those PCTs decide otherwise. These decisions would be driven locally, following our White Paper deliberations, and will only be implemented following full local public and staff consultation.
	Strategic health authorities (SHAs) have recently submitted their proposals for the reconfiguration of PCTs, which set out how they intend to strengthen their commissioning function. These proposals will be assessed by an independent external panel drawn from and representing a wide range of stakeholder interests. The panel will determine whether the SHA proposals meet the criteria stipulated in "Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS" (July 2005). If the criteria are judged to have been met, the proposals will go forward to a three-month public consultation. No further decisions on the reorganisation of PCTs will be taken until this process has been completed.

NHS Commissioning

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she expects that some doctors, nurses and managers will reform their practices into limited companies and contract as private and not-for-profit companies for the provision of practice services following the implementation of her proposals on Commissioning in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: There is no expectation for practices to reform themselves into limited companies as a result of "Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS". Changing the way that healthcare services currently provided by primary care trusts (PCTs) is a matter for them. A White Paper on social care and community healthcare services will be published at the turn of the year and this will be informed by the results of the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say public listening exercise currently under way. Any proposals on the future provision of PCT services will also be subject to full local and staff consultation in the usual way.

NHS Commissioning

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards she plans to put in place to ensure that an outsourced provider of the commissioning function of a primary care trust is not owned by an organisation that is also competing to provide services in the same area.

Liam Byrne: The Department has received proposals from all strategic health authorities setting out their proposals for the reconfiguration of primary care trusts (PCTs) in order to strengthen their commissioning function. The proposals will shortly be assessed by an external panel, representing a wide range of stakeholder interests, to determine whether they meet the criteria stipulated in July's "Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS". Proposals that meet these criteria will then be subject to a full three-month public consultation. No further decisions on the reorganisation of PCTs will be taken until this process has been completed.

Primary Care Trusts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list primary care trusts which have an unaddressed financial risk of over £1 million pounds.

Liam Byrne: We have interpreted the issue of unaddressed financial risk to mean those primary care trusts (PCTs) that overspent in 2004–05 by £1 million pounds or more. This is shown in the table.
	The latest data available on the financial position of national health service organisations (strategic health authorities, PCTs and NHS trusts) is for 2004–05. This information was made available on the Department's publications website on 19 September 2005.
	
		PCTs that have overspent by £1 million or more in 2004–05
		
			 £000 
			 PCT name Final surplus/(deficits) 
		
		
			 Kensington and Chelsea -17,976 
			 Bedfordshire Heartlands -14,536 
			 Hillingdon -13,470 
			 Suffolk West -12,510 
			 Kennet and North Wiltshire -10,159 
			 Ipswich -10,119 
			 New Forest -8,592 
			 Wandsworth -8,237 
			 Cambridge City -7,621 
			 Southern Norfolk -7,152 
			 Chelmsford -7,144 
			 North Stoke -6,810 
			 Fareham and Gosport -6,757 
			 North and East Cornwall -6,668 
			 Selby and York -6,598 
			 Suffolk Coastal -6,174 
			 Hounslow -6,171 
			 Yorkshire Wolds and Coast -6,116 
			 Luton -6,038 
			 Guildford and Waverley -5,887 
			 West of Cornwall -5,669 
			 Central Cornwall -5,294 
			 North Norfolk -5,294 
			 North Devon -5,263 
			 North Somerset -5,202 
			 East Hampshire -5,199 
			 South West Oxfordshire -5,172 
			 Vale of Aylesbury -4,916 
			 Hertsmere -4,897 
			 Milton Keynes -4,860 
			 Dacorum -4,840 
			 Cotswold and Vale -4,809 
			 East Lincolnshire -4,483 
			 Broadland -4,444 
			 Cherwell Vale -4,404 
			 North Hertfordshire and Stevenage -3,860 
			 Central Suffolk -3,837 
			 South Western Staffordshire -3,750 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands -3,725 
			 Maidstone Weald -3,714 
			 Havering -3,258 
			 Witham, Braintree and Halstead Care Trust -3,141 
			 West Gloucestershire -3,110 
			 West Wiltshire -2,803 
			 Bexley Care Trust -2,749 
			 Blackwater Valley and Hart -2,676 
			 South Cambridgeshire -2,583 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey -2,563 
			 Waltham Forest -2,538 
			 South and East Dorset -2,424 
			 Canterbury and Coastal -2,276 
			 Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth -2,111 
			 Wyre Forest -1,968 
			 North East Oxfordshire -1,938 
			 Watford and Three Rivers -1,928 
			 Kingston -1,853 
			 Sussex Downs and Weald -1,819 
			 South Stoke -1,719 
			 South Wiltshire -1,535 
			 Waveney -1,533 
			 St Albans and Harpenden -1,526 
			 Huntingdonshire -1,516 
			 Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire -1,494 
			 Maldon and South Chelmsford -1,489 
			 West Norfolk -1,482 
			 Colchester -1,470 
			 North Birmingham -1,339 
			 Eastleigh and Test Valley South -1,283 
			 Cannock Chase -1,235 
			 Charnwood and North West Leicestershire -1,200 
			 Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford -1,123 
			 Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley -1,086 
		
	
	Note:
	2004–05 data must be treated as provisional until signed off by National Audit Officer/Chief Executive.
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules 2004–05.

Ivory Coast

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) UN reports that the Ivory Coast has begun rebuilding its airforce and (b) the implications of these reports for the maintenance of the ceasefire.

Ian Pearson: The situation in Côte d'Ivoire remains fragile and the Government are concerned at any report of activities by either the Côte d'Ivoire Government or rebels which could re-ignite conflict. United Nations Security Council resolutions 1572 and 1584 imposed an arms embargo on all parties involved in the conflict, to be closely monitored by the UN. A group of experts has recently submitted a report to the Security Council on the present state of the embargo. We and other Security Council members are now carefully considering this report. We would view with the utmost concern evidence of the Government of Côte d'Ivoire rebuilding their airforce, which would clearly contravene the embargo and threaten the fragile ceasefire. We also strongly support recent efforts by the UN, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States to move the peace process forward following the postponed elections of 30 October.

Overseas Pensioners

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place the matter of pensions that are frozen and not up-rated annually in line with inflation for British pensioners living in (a) Canada, (b) New Zealand, (c) Australia, (d) South Africa and (e) Zimbabwe on the agenda at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta.

Ian Pearson: The agenda for the Valletta Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was drawn up by Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon, in consultation with the Government of Malta and Commonwealth members. Malta's chosen keynote theme is "Networking the Commonwealth for Development". Heads of Government will also discuss terrorism, tolerance and world trade.

Energy Reduction

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans for energy reduction have been put in place in each Northern Ireland Department since 2003.

Angela Smith: Northern Ireland Departments have adopted the targets for improvements in energy performance contained in the 2003 Government White Paper "Our energy future—creating a low carbon economy". Departments are accommodated in buildings provided and managed by the Department of Finance and Personnel, which conducts a continuous programme of improvements of building energy performance in pursuit of the targets.
	Since 2003, within the office estate planned actions have included conducting surveys to identify and implement cost-effective energy conservation measures; converting suitable buildings from oil or electric heating to natural gas; and purchasing green electricity, where this represents value for money. Similar actions have been taken in the specialised buildings within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Department of Social Development and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,
	Official vehicle fleets are now generally diesel fuelled, and the official car pool has purchased two petrol/electric hybrid cars. Local plans are also in place covering car travel.

Home Adaptations

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time taken to carry out home adaptations by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive following a recommendation by an occupational therapist was in each year since 2003.

David Hanson: The Housing Executive measures the time taken from receipt of a recommendation from an occupational therapist (OT) to the commencement of works against agreed standards and a classification of cases according to their urgency/priority. Each adaptation is tailored to the specific needs of the individual person concerned. The length of time taken by a contractor to then complete a job is variable and can range from a few days to a few months for extensions.
	From the receipt of an OT recommendation to work starting, in the public sector, the figures are as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06(24) 
		
		
			 Lifts
			 Within 12 weeks 66 91 89 
			 Within 22 weeks 93 97 97 
			 
			 Extensions
			 Started within 30 weeks 20 23 36 
			 Started within 46 weeks 53 56 64 
			 Started within 60 weeks 70 71 79 
		
	
	(24) To end September 2005.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  April to September 2005 
		
		
			 Showers  
			 Within 10 weeks 72(25) 
			 Within 40 weeks 77(26) 
		
	
	(25) Urgent cases.
	(26) Non-urgent cases.
	Note:
	Figures only available from 2004.
	Private sector
	The average length of time taken to carry out home adaptations in the private sector with Northern Ireland Housing Executive Grant aid following an occupational therapist's recommendation is as follows:
	
		
			  Weeks 
		
		
			 2003–04 116 
			 2004–05 121 
			 2005–06 117 
		
	
	Much of the period indicated above is outside the Housing Executive's direct control. For example:
	The period for the applicant to complete a formal grant application. This includes getting plans drawn up and approved by the occupational therapist and the Housing Executive. This type of work often requires building control and planning approval and ordinarily Housing Executive allows six months for completion of this stage.
	The period for the Housing Executive to undertake the means test and calculate the costs of the grant-aided works.
	The period for the applicant to engage a contractor and have the works carried out and the period for sign-off of the final approval of the completed works and making the final payment.

Alcohol and Smoking-related Deaths

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths in (a) England and (b) West Lancashire (i) consumption of alcohol and (ii) smoking was the main cause in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Rosie Cooper, dated 15 November 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking in how many deaths in (a) England and (b) West Lancashire (i) consumption of alcohol and (ii) smoking was the main cause in the last year for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (27695)
	The most recently available information for mortality is deaths registered in 2004. The table below shows numbers of deaths among residents of England and West Lancashire local authority, where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol use in 2004.
	Information is not recorded on the death certificate on smoking. Estimates can however be made of the number of deaths attributable to smoking, by making use of information on the contribution of smoking to specific conditions recorded at death. The most recent estimates for England were published by the Health Development Agency in 2004l. This report estimated that between 1998 and 2002 an annual average of 86,500 deaths were caused by smoking in England.
	Estimates were not published at parliamentary constituency or local authority level. However maps based on the estimated percentage of all deaths from causes attributable to smoking, at ages 35 and over, were published for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). For West Lancashire it was estimated that 32 per cent. of all deaths of those aged 35 and over were attributable to smoking 2 . West Lancashire PCT is coterminous with West Lancashire local authority.
	1 Twigg L, Moon G and Walker S. The smoking epidemic in England. Health Development Agency, 2004.
	2 Information supplied by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
	
		Alcohol-related deaths(28) to usual residents of England and West Lancashire local authority, registered 2004
		
			 Area of residence Number of deaths 
		
		
			 England 6,125 
			 West Lancashire 14 
		
	
	(28) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are listed:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol.
	Notes:
	1. Deaths were selected using the original underlying cause.
	2. The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A. and Rooney C. (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. "Health Statistics Quarterly" 17, pp 5–14.

Alcohol and Smoking-related Deaths

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths where alcohol was the primary cause there were in West Lancashire in the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Rosie Cooper, dated 15 November 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths where alcohol was the primary cause there were in West Lancashire in the last five years. I am replying in her absence. (27847)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2004. The attached table shows the numbers of deaths among residents of West Lancashire local authority where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol use in the years 2000 to 2004.
	
		Alcohol-related deaths(29) to usual residents of West Lancashire local authority, registered 2000–04
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 2000 13 
			 2001 18 
			 2002 13 
			 2003 18 
			 2004 14 
		
	
	(29) For the year 2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are listed:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 2001–04 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were used:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	Notes:
	1. Deaths were selected using the original underlying cause.
	2. The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A. and Rooney C. (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. "Health Statistics Quarterly" 17, pp 5–14.

Birth Statistics

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many births there were to women resident in Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic health authority area at (a) individual maternity hospitals, (b) midwife-led units, (c) home and (d) other locations in each year since 2000.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Gold Sales

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer on 26 October 2005, Official Report, column 366W, on gold sales, 
	(1)  what assumptions were used in measuring the risk, when calculating the value-at-risk reduction of approximately 30 per cent.;
	(2)  whether the Treasury conducted a value-at-risk calculation on the alternative structure of the foreign exchange reserves at that time for comparative purposes;
	(3) , what the total return from the reinvested proceeds of the sale were, including interest in pounds sterling, from the announcement in May 1999 to October 2005; and what estimate he has made of the likely total return over the same period if the gold had not been sold.

Ivan Lewis: Information on the value at risk calculations that were conducted and the assumptions made can be found at Annex B "Review of the sale of part of the UK gold reserves" published in October 2002, which is available on the Treasury website at: http://www.hm-treasury.aov.uk/media//9EFEF/GoldReserves.PDF
	The decision to rebalance the reserves portfolio by selling gold was a long-term investment decision not a short-term attempt to play the market. Reducing the riskiness of the portfolio can only be assessed meaningfully in the medium to long term because in the meantime short-term fluctuations in assets prices could mask the benefits of risk reduction.

Illegal Drug Deaths

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths have been caused in West Lancashire by illegal drugs since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Rosie Cooper, dated 15 November 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths have been caused in West Lancashire by illegal drugs since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (28093)
	Figures readily available from death certification relate deaths due to drug poisoning, not the total number that were attributable to drug use. These figures are produced from a special database which contains deaths where the underlying cause was drug poisoning. Deaths that may be caused indirectly by drug use, for example HIV infection or road traffic accidents, are not included. Death registration data are not the best source of information on these "indirect" deaths, because information on the role of drug use in the death may not be provided on the death certificate.
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2003. There were 14 deaths certified as due to drug poisoning 1 and involving drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act to residents of West Lancashire 2 in the seven years 1997 to 2003 3 . We cannot provide a further breakdown by year due to possible individual disclosure resulting from the small numbers of deaths involved.
	1 Defined using the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision for 2001–2003: F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, Y10-Y14, X85 and the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision for 1997–2000: 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5
	2 Usual residents of West Lancashire.
	3 Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year

Income Tax

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of taxpayers in (a) West Lancashire and (b) the UK paid tax at the (i) basic rate and (ii) higher rate in 2004–05.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to table 2.1 'Number of individual income taxpayers' on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2–1.pdf.
	The percentages of individuals paying income tax at the basic rate and higher rate in the UK can be calculated from the data provided in the table.
	The income tax information is based upon the 2002–03 Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) projected forward to 2004–05 in line with Budget 2005 assumptions.
	Latest information on the estimated number of income taxpayers and their mean and median total income in West Lancashire constituency is shown in table 3.15 'Total Income by Parliamentary Constituency' on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/table-3–15.xls.
	Similar information for West Lancashire district is shown in table 3.14 'Total income by borough and district or unitary authority' http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm314.
	A breakdown by tax bands is not available because the sample sizes for marginal rates at constituency and district level are very small and demonstrate a large variability year on year.

P11D Returns

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to (a) amend the current definition of those subject to P11D returns as higher rate earners and (b) raise the threshold for the requirement to submit a P11D return.

Dawn Primarolo: The current definition of those subject to P11D returns is "a director or employee who earned at a rate of £8,500 a year or more". There are no plans to change the criteria or to raise the threshold.

Suicides

Rosie Cooper: To ask The Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides there were in West Lancashire, in the most recent year for which figures are available, by young people aged 15 to 24 years, (a) broken down by sex and (b) expressed as a percentage of all suicides.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many compensation payments have been made by the tax credits department of HM Revenue and Customs for poor service in each month since January 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The circumstances in which the former Inland Revenue and HM Revenue and Customs will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's code of practice 1 "Putting things right" which is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/cop1.pdf
	The Department will pay compensation for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of their mistakes or delays and to recognise worry and distress caused by those mistakes and delays.
	The Department will make a compensation payment if they believe it is justified even if the customer has not asked for compensation.
	The total number of compensation payments in relation to tax credits, by HMRC's Tax Credit Office and contact centres, in each month is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2004  
			 January 329 
			 February 880 
			 March 1,399 
			 April 1,507 
			 May 2,150 
			 June 1,639 
			 July 1,805 
			 August 1,657 
			 September 1,441 
			 October 1,429 
			 November 1,304 
			 December 1,476 
			   
			 1995  
			 January 1,884 
			 February 2,162 
			 March 1,733 
			 April 1,202 
			 May 1,653 
			 June 1,929 
			 July 1,542 
			 August 1,296 
			 September 1,087